Transmitter for systems of submarine signaling.



No. 852,649. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. L. I. BLAKE.

TRANSMITTER FOR SYSTEMS OPSUBMARINE SIGNALING. APPLIOATIONIILED JAN. 29, 1907.

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aw/mamas 5 wue n foz source of any pitch or quality, and its con-' size, but upon the physical properties of the NITE STATES LUCIEN I. BLAKE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SUBMA- BIN E SIGNAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

TRANSMITTER FOR SYSTEMS 'OF SUBIVIARINE snenmuve.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed January 29,1907. Serial No. 354,625.

To aZl whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LUoIEN I. BLAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transmitters for Systems of Submarine Signaling, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

In an application filed by me on January 5, 1907, Serial No. 350,983, I have described and claimed an invention based upon the use of consonant material as an intensifier of sound vibrations transmitted or received through water in the art of submarine signaling. My present application is that referred to therein as being specifically directed to the use of consonant material in connection uith a sound producer, and in explana tion of the nature and principle of the invention which forms the subject of this case, I may make the following statement: Certain substances, chiefly of a fibrous nature such as woods, possess the property of consonance. Sonorous vibrations imparted to any imit ed portion of these substances cause their whole mass to be excited into molecular vibrations of similar pitch.- The consonant material becomes thus a secondary source of sound. It has no natural pitch of its own, as does a resonant cavity, as it is excited by a primary sonance does not depend upon its shape or material of which it is composed. Conso nant materials are characterized by a cellular or fibrous structure and high molecular elasticity. Steel and glass, for example, though highly elastic, are granular or crystalline, not cellular in molecular structure, and are not appreciably consonant. White pine wood, on the other hand, is highly consonant. Resonance, as distinguished from consonance, depends upon the shape and size of cavities, and upon the free, vibrations of the medium within the cavities, and not upon the composition of the material which bounds them. It is important to bear this distinction clearly in mind in order to arrive at a full understanding of my present invention. My invention is based upon the application and use in a novel manner ofconsonant ma 1 t'erial as a sound intensifier in submarine signaling. I have discovered that consonant material, because its action is essentially molecular, is eminently fitted to receive sound from, and to deliver it into, water, in which medium the vibrations most useful for signaling by sound are essentially molecular, and that for either purpose it acts as a power ful reinforcer of sound.

In carrying out. this invention, which, as above stated, is limited to the use of consonant material for intensifying sounds delivered into or transmitted through water, I interpose between the water and the source of sound, a body of consonant material. This, evidently, may be accomplished in a great many ways, but I have securedthe best results by the use of devices of substantially the following description. A mass of consonant material is immersed in the water at any given station, whether on shore or in the vicinity of a vessel,in which latter case it may be immersed in the peak or other tank Within the vessel, thawalls of which tank are composed in part of the sides of the vessel itself. In either case, the body of consonant material is excited to powerful consonance by any suitable primary sound producer, such as the stem of a power operated reed or rod longitudinally excited by an electric current. Inthis case the consonant substance becomes a secondary source of molecular vibrations which are delivered into the water.

In the drawing hereto annexed I have illustrated in detail a transmitter embodying my invention.

The figure represents a portion of the bow of a vessel partly in section, with the transmitter immersed in a tank therein, and the necessary electric circuits in diagram.

A is a block or mass of consonant material immersed in the body of Water through which sound signals are to be transmitted. As shown, the block A is immersed in the water with which a tank B in the peak of the vessel is more or less filled, but, as is now well known, when such a tank is formed in part by the Walls of the vessel, the sound is conveyed as readily as though the sound producer were in the water outside of the vessel.

The block A is supported in the tank B by means of a rod or bar C of magnetic material. Surrounding this bar is a coil D through and the above is intended as a typical exwhichis'passed a direct. current fromany purpose of of consonant '.material A, are transmitted suitabIe' source, as from a battery E, and impartinga constant magnetization to the bar. In addition to this coil is a coil. F, included in the circuit of any suitablegenerator of alternating currents G, and'includingja .c rcult controller H located at some convenient point on the vessel. By means of such controller the alternating current is passed through coil-F at the desired intervals for the vibration.

controller is operated to make and break the alternating current circuit according to any prearranged code. The vibrations thus i'mf parted to the bar and intensified by the mass through the ships sides and the water to signals audible;

great .;distances.- Any suitable sound receiver sensitive to molecular vibrations may be employed in the usual way to render such It is obvious vention may be carried out m many ways,

ample of any suitable. form ofvibrator for exciting the block'A to consonance, although it represents the best way. which is now known to me for accomplishing this result. 1

In the practical use of this invention I have found that California white pine, or, gene eral, wood similar to white pine and free from resinous substances is the best consonant material for the purpose. When the surface of such wood is exposed to the water, it may I be coated withshellac, or similar material to prevent or reduce the absorption of water.

In all of the applications 'of my invention whenfcarried .out with duelre ard to the principle here'inbefore illustrate the consonant material acts as a powerful reinforcer of.

the sound vibrations which may be im arted action in such case isclearly distinguishable from the molar orv segmental action upon setting the bar 0 into molecular that the principle of this in;

; bar, as set forth.

What claim as my invention is 1 In submarine signaling by sound, the means herein described for producing and transmitting signals, comprising in combinationa s'ourcejot sound-vibrations anda body of consonant material'interposed between the same and the water and adapted to be excited to consonance by the vibrations of said source, asset forth.

2. The means for transmitting sound vibrations through water comprising, in combination, a body of consonant material immersed When it'is deslred to transmit signals, the

the water and a vibrator controllable at W1ll for exclting the said body to consonance, asset forth.

3.Tlie means for transmitting sound vibraitions through water, comprising, in combination, an electro-magnetic vibrator, acontrolling circuit for the same, and a body of consonant material immersed in. the water and adapted to beexcited toconsonance by the action of saidvibrator, as set forth.

4. A transmitter for submarine sign ling by sound, comprising, in combination, a, ody of consonant material, a bar of magnetic material connected therewith, and an energizing circuit adapted to set 5.. A transmitter bysound, comprising, in combination, a body of'cons'onant material, a bar of ma etic material connected therewith, energizing coils surrounding said bar, 'a source of direct current including in its circuit one of said coils, and a controllable source of alternating current includingin its circuit the other of said coils, assetforth,

up vibrations in said t forsubmarine signaling" 6. The means for transmitting' sound vibrations'through water, comprising, in combination, a 'vessel, a tank formed in part by the side off'the vessel, a body'of consonant mate rial immersedin Water in said tank and a vibrator adapted to excite said-body to consoto it and by it to the water. Its mo ecular nance, as setforth. v g

I Lucian I. BLAKE. Witnesses: I

- MAoA LAsTER'MooRE,

J. CoNvnRsE Gnar.) 7 

